Steam eggs for the most consistent results

Place a steamer basket in a pot with 1 inch of water. Bring to a boil, add eggs to the steamer, cover, and steam. 6 minutes for soft-boiled, 10 minutes for medium, 13 minutes for hard-boiled. Transfer to ice bath immediately.

Why It Works

Steaming produces more consistent results than boiling because steam temperature is constant regardless of how many eggs you cook. Eggs also peel more easily because the steam gently loosens the membrane from the shell.

Tips

• This method works with eggs straight from the refrigerator — no need to bring to room temperature
• You can steam as many eggs as fit in a single layer in the basket
• If you do not have a steamer basket, a metal colander that fits inside your pot works too
• Steamed hard-boiled eggs are consistently easier to peel than boiled ones